Quote of the day – William Bradford, pilgrim

2 Corinthians 12:9,10

NKJV

9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

mayflower

“The Pilgrims’ longtime governor would not have made a popular Thanksgiving Day speaker. Unlike the succession of statesmen who flattered their audiences with purple prose, lauding their adopted ancestors for their unsurpassed wisdom and nobility, Bradford chose instead to underline their shortcomings. The first colonists had survived and flourished, Bradford insisted in his history Of Plymouth Plantation, not because of their many strengths and virtues, but in spite of ‘all their weaknesses and infirmities.’ In emphasizing that truth, he gave greater glory to God and offered greater hope to us.”

Robert Tracy McKenzie, professor and chair of the Department of History at Wheaton College

Pastor Jim, that’s a wonderful and interesting lesson for them. In an old movie about the pilgrims’ voyage, their printing press was used to support a ship’s beam broken in a storm. I haven’t vetted this incident but believe their journey and settling here was filled with affliction and the Lord’s amazing provision.

That was a very well written nuanced post. I think it is great the writer pointed out the deeper reason they came to America and that we shouldn’t read our modern concept of “religious freedom” and “economic opportunity” to what the Pilgrims understood